Ask incoming Slippery Rock University junior pitcher Wyatt Daugherty about his goals for next year. He has a definite number in mind.

“3.5,” he said without hesitation when posed that question Thursday night.

“That's the grade-point average I want to hit.”

A Butler graduate, Daugherty has developed into quite the relief pitcher with The Rock in the spring and now the Butler BlueSox in the summer.

But as a finance and accounting major, his primary aspirations are academically based. He wasn't about to play any baseball this summer until he completed a summer class at SRU.

“That was perfectly understandable,” BlueSox manager Cody Herald said. “I wish we had him here the whole season.

“I'm definitely glad we have him here now.”

The BlueSox almost didn't have him there at all.

Daugherty's summer course wrapped up on June 30. He had originally planned to pitch for an Eagle County League team the rest of the summer.

“I just wanted to get some innings in ... I wasn't sure I could pitch that successfully at this level,” he said of the Prospect League. “Then I figured, why not spend the summer really trying to get better?

“Facing college hitters was a way to do that ... and these hitters are really, really good. I joined the BlueSox the same day I had my last class.”

Daugherty has been every bit of good — if not better — than those hitters.

He's made seven appearances out of the Butler bullpen thus far, working 13.1 innings. He is sporting a team-leading 1.35 earned run average, has two wins and has given up just nine hits.

Daugherty also has 15 strikeouts and only four walks.

“Wyatt exudes confidence on the mound,” Herald said. “He trusts his stuff and goes out and attacks hitters. He doesn't give in.”

Facing West Virginia Thursday night, Daugherty fell behind 2-0 in the count to power-hitting Dan Ward, who deposited the ensuing fastball off the scoreboard in center field at Kelly Automotive Park.

Daugherty shrugged the at-bat off almost immediately.

“That's why he's an effective closer.” Herald said. “He has that short memory a closer needs to have.

“We don't really have a closer here. None of our pitchers have defined roles. I may need Wyatt to give us a clean third inning or something, depending on the game situation. When I need him, I'm going to use him.”

That suits Daugherty just fine.

“(SRU coach Jeff Messer) told me I could make 18 appearances this summer,” the pitcher said. “I've only made seven. I should be good to go the rest of the season, however they need me.”

While Daugherty's fastball hits 90 miles per hour, he mixes in a slider and curve as well. And he's been showing good control.

At SRU this past spring, he struck out 36 and walked only 11 in 32.1 innings pitched. He was 2-2 with four saves for The Rock.

“I'll be the main closer there again,” Daugherty said. “I love pitching short relief. You're always pitching meaningful innings.

“I want to make all-conference again like this year. Right now, I want to help our (BlueSox) team get into the playoffs. This has been a lot of fun.”